Bill S-231: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

This bill primarily affects healthcare providers — doctors, nurse practitioners, and the clinics or hospitals where they work — across all Canadian provinces and territories. Day-to-day, practitioners involved in MAID assessments and administration would need to manage new documentation processes, including written arrangements for specified-day MAID and witnessed written declarations with medical certifications for advance requests. Healthcare facilities would need to update their MAID protocols, train staff on the new advance consent pathways, and ensure proper record-keeping for declarations that remain valid for up to five years. The impact is concentrated on medical practices and health systems rather than businesses broadly, though legal and consulting firms advising healthcare providers may also see increased demand.